Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1887-09-16
AGRICULTURAL.
Devoted to the Interests OF Farmers
and Stockmen.
Pasture For Hogs.

mer. The hog is entitled TO grass u,
summer as much so as the COW, anu
will profit by it equally as well. In ms
wild or natural state he lives atlins
the entire year upon such food as ne
can nick up-grass in summer anu
mast roots and grubs in winter. bu.
in his domesticated state his choice OF
food is more limited on account OF the
less range allowed him, and, therefore,
needs something more. Many farmers
paw very little attention to what 1000
their hogs get until fattening time'
thinking that until then all that is
necessary is TO give them barely enough
to keep them alive, when they are I'M
natient to stuff them with all the corn
thew will eat. The tendency OF corn
diet is to produce fat and to heat the
system, and therefore very suitable IN
winter, or for the final preparation oil
the animals for market; but young,
growing hogs need more bulky as
well as more cooling and loosenlng
diet in summer, not only the better to
preserve their health, but to distend
their stomachs and build up bono and
muscle to enable them to digest more
food and carry more weight OF flesh
than when confined exclusively to
corn.
Of all the cultivated grasses there is,
none, probably, elf we may except
lucerne J, that will produce as much
food and OF kind more relished by
hogs as clover, But as clover does not
come forward very early in the spring,
and is more or less liable to suffer
from drought, lis better to supplement
it by having permanent lot or two OF
grass that is less subject to these draw
backs. For this purpose there is moth
ing to equal lucerne in its capacity to
stand dry weather, which makes it es-
pecially adapted to our more southern
States, where clover cannot be so sue
cessfully grown. The next best thing
to it is orchard grass, as it starts very
early in the spring, bears continuous
grazing, stands drouth well and grows
till late in the fall, slight frosts not in
juring it in the least.
1t is highly necessary, too, that a
pasture for such animals should con-
tain running water to supply them
with fresh water at all times. If not,
it should be furnished from pump or
we'll in troughs or pipes leading to the
same And as hogs are so liable to
suffer from heat in the summer, it is Of
great importance that they should be
furnished with shaIe, whether from
spreading trees or thicket of bushes.
Iadeed, it is cruel to confne hogs to a
pasture in which there is no shade,
either natural or artificial, and there
fore the most necessary, in the alb
sence of the former, that the latter be
supplied by making them temporary
shelter of some kind, of which there
are none more cheaply or conveniently
made than of poles covered with straw
until trees are planted to take their
place.
But while clover or other grass is the
main dependence for hogs in summer,
there is another crop not sufficiently
appreciated by the generality of farm.
ers, and that is pumpkins. They are
very easily raised, and hogs not only
thrive on them wonderfully, but they
can be fed them from the LIST of Octo-
Der until late in the winter, provided
there is cellar or other suitable place
in which to stow them away.
1t is generally supposed that alfalfa
needs large quantities of water for its
successful growth. This is not So Oh
course, heavier and more frequent
crops can be secured when there is
plenty OF water for irrigation. But
even without that aid there is no plant
which will Withstand drought and yield
heavier crops than alfalfa. On the dry
and arid plains OF Kansas it can be cut
at least three times each season with.
out being irrigated, and this is the gen.
eral experience where irrigation is not
practiced.
Fowls IN confinement require va.
rlety OF food to prosper. They REQUIRE
mixture OF green food with grain, as
much as horses or cattle do. Too
much solid food, where there is not
proper exercise, tends to fatten. When
hens take on fat they usually fall off
laying. Yarded fowls do not need the
same hearty food as birds at liberty
Light, nutritious and easily digested
food is required by fowls in confine-
ment. Never allow them to make
whole corn a staple diet Fresh meat
TWO or three times week is necessary
tor fowls in confinement, and in sum.
mer especially, when they are deprived
! of insect food.
A farmer in Greenboro, Md, think.
ing to change his grade of potatoes
oarreied all that he had, shipped them
10 Baltimore, and ordered few barrels
OF extra fine Northern potatoes lo1
SEED While barreling his own tubers
he lost his spectacles. When he 70.
ceived his Northern seed potatoes he
iound his missing spectacles in one Of
the barrels. Such things destroy con
tidence.
Keep the hens that mott their
feathers early, as they will begin 70
nay before winter. 1t requires about
three months for hens to mott.
coats tor milk are carefully bred in
England, a registry book recording
their pedlgrees, and only meritorions
females used for breeding. ''
hl'l'tas county, w. T., expects to
nave surplusage of about 20OO tons
, OF hay for eynnrt IL. wv 'oIls